you can’t buy love, but you can rescue it. fostering is the first step -
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long term foster
Our highest demand foster program.
Long-term fosters provide a safe, stable home to our rescue dogs for a minimum of one month, often until they find their forever families. There’s no set time frame—placement depends entirely on when the right adopter comes along.
Because some dogs may be returned if the match isn’t quite right, we ask our long-term fosters to wait 2–4 weeks after an adoption before taking on a new dog. This ensures we have room should the dog need to return to your care.
Long-term fostering is incredibly rewarding and makes a lasting impact on a dog’s journey.
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short term foster
Not ready to commit long-term, but still want to help? Short-term fostering is a great way to support rescue work on a flexible basis!
While we aim to place dogs in foster homes where they can stay until adoption, there are times when short-term care is needed—for example, during transitions between fosters or when a dog is newly arriving.
Short-term fosters may not be in high demand, but your willingness to open your home, even briefly, can make a big difference. Every safe place counts.
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crisis foster
Want to help but can’t commit long-term?
Crisis fosters step up in urgent situations when a dog needs immediate placement. Whether it’s due to a sudden surrender, a medical emergency, or a failed adoption, these short-term stays are critical to keeping dogs safe.Crisis fostering typically lasts 1–2 weeks while we secure a more permanent placement. It’s a great way to make a big impact—fast.
Your quick response can save a life.
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senior foster
Senior dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities — and age is just one piece of the puzzle. Energy levels, health needs, and temperament can vary widely, and what qualifies as “senior” for one breed might not for another.
Rather than assign a specific number, we consider each senior dog on an individual basis. Just like all of our dogs, they’re matched with homes that suit their unique needs and give them the comfort and care they deserve in their golden years.
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experienced foster
We’re always looking for experienced dog handlers who are confident working with dogs that have behavioral challenges — such as resource guarding, leash reactivity, or a bite history.
If you have the skills, patience, and commitment to help these dogs succeed, we’d love to hear from you.
Your experience can make all the difference in giving them a second chance.
foster faqs
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We’re a foster-based rescue based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, with fosters and volunteers spread throughout Southwestern Ontario. While we don’t operate a physical shelter, our dedicated team is always here to answer your questions and support you every step of the way!
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We welcome fosters of all experience levels — including first-time dog owners! The most important thing is being open-minded and willing to learn.
We provide all our fosters with the training and resources they need to support their dogs, plus a dedicated Foster Counsellor who will guide you throughout the entire fostering journey.
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Most of our dogs come to us through trusted partner rescues. As an international organization, we receive dogs from a variety of countries, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the United States, and Northern Canada.
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Most of our lovable pups are mixed breeds. We frequently welcome Shepherds, American Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, and many others — but we happily accept dogs of all breeds through our rescue.
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When dogs arrive at their foster homes, they come fully equipped with all necessary supplies, including a crate, food, a martingale collar, and a leash. Depending on the dog’s individual needs, they may also arrive with medication or other specific items.
Fosters are always welcome to spoil their fosters with extra toys, treats, beds, clothing, or any other comforts — these additional items can be purchased at your own expense if you wish.
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Yes, each dog is carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are suitable to live with other animals. Since we often have limited information about a dog’s behaviour prior to coming into our care, the details we receive usually reflect how the dog behaves in their current environment.
We do our best to match fosters with dogs based on the information provided by our partner rescues and to prepare fosters with a plan to help all pets in the home adjust smoothly.
Please note that all pets in the household must be fully up to date on vaccinations, and documentation will be required.
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We do not allow you to bring your foster to a dog park. If you decide to use a dog park, we require you to cover all costs if any incidents occur. Your foster dog may behave well at home but that doesn’t mean the rest of the dogs will, or that your dog won’t jump in on a fight or jump a fence. We do not know the full background of our dogs and we want them to be as safe as possible.
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Yes, each dog is individually assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are a good fit for a home with children. Since we often have limited information about a dog’s behaviour before they come into our care, we rely on the details provided by our partner rescues to make the best possible match.
Ultimately, you know your child best. Deciding to welcome a foster dog into your home depends on your child’s temperament, energy level, and understanding of dogs—including respecting their boundaries. Regardless of the situation, slow and calm introductions are essential to help everyone feel safe and comfortable.
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Depending on factors such as the locations of the foster and adopter, everyone’s comfort levels, and any necessary vetting, the hand-off may occur either at the foster’s home or the adopter’s home. Please do not transfer your foster dog to the adopter without prior approval from The Dog Rescue Society team.
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While having access to a vehicle is a big help, it’s not mandatory. If you don’t have a car, we kindly ask that you try reaching out to friends or family who might be able to assist with transporting your foster to and from vet appointments or the airport. If that’s not an option, don’t worry — we’re happy to help coordinate transport as needed.
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The Dog Rescue Society will schedule your foster’s vet appointments at one of our approved clinics. It’s important that you do not take the dog to your own vet or to one of our clinics without prior approval, as we won’t be able to reimburse any costs in those cases.
We also have a dedicated Veterinary Care Advisor on our team to support you with any medical concerns or questions. Their contact information will be provided during your onboarding process.
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If you have to travel for any reason — whether it's for work, vacation, or something else — please let us know as early as possible. Advance notice helps us coordinate care for your foster dog.
All sitters must be pre-approved by The Dog Rescue Society. That said, approved sitters can include friends, family, or others in your social circle — just reach out to us first so we can discuss and ensure it's a good fit.
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We understand — sometimes a foster placement just isn’t the right fit for you or the dog, and that’s okay.
If you’re experiencing challenges or need support, please reach out to your Foster Buddy. We’ll work with you to find a solution. In some cases, we may ask you to continue fostering until another suitable home is found.
We do our best to avoid moving dogs between foster homes whenever possible, as transitions can be stressful for them — especially while they’re still adjusting to a new environment.
For any urgent concerns or emergencies, you’ll also have direct contact information for our team, provided during onboarding.
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Once a dog has an adoption pending, The Dog Rescue Society will coordinate a meet-and-greet between you (the foster), the potential adopters, all members of their household — and of course, the dog!
This meeting is a great opportunity for you to get a sense of the potential home and share any feedback about the match. It’s also a chance to answer any questions the adopters may have and offer helpful insights based on your experience with the dog.
Fosters are not able to schedule meet and greets with potential applicants without discussing with their Foster Counsellor. We pre-screen applicants before we schedule a meet and greet. If a friend, family member or co-worker wants to adopt your foster dog we recommend discussing with your Counsellor so everyone is in the loop and the appropriate steps can be taken.
After a meet and greet with a potential adopter, please share your feedback with us — we will take your thoughts and insight into consideration in selecting the best home for your foster dog. After all, you live with them!
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Absolutely — sometimes a foster dog feels like the missing piece of your family, and we love when that happens!
If you’re considering adoption, you’ll have a two-week window from the day your foster arrives to let us know. During that time, the dog won’t be listed as available to the public.
We do ask that all foster-to-adopt applicants go through our full adoption process, which includes a phone interview with one of our Adoption Counsellors and payment of the standard adoption fee (note: we do not offer discounts for fosters who choose to adopt).
After your initial two-week window, friends or family in your social circle may still apply to adopt before we open the dog up to the general public.
Please note: All pets currently in your home must be fully up to date on vaccinations, and we will require documentation to confirm this.
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As a foster, you’re providing a safe and loving temporary home until your dog is adopted. This includes, but isn’t limited to:
Supporting basic training like housebreaking, crate training, basic commands, and establishing structure and boundaries
Being available to either pick up your foster from transport or receive them at home if a volunteer is dropping them off
Bringing your foster to vet appointments, or helping us coordinate transport if you’re unable to
Picking up additional or refill supplies when needed (we’ll always let you know where and when)
Attending adoption events with your foster dog when requested
Providing regular updates, photos, and feedback to help us write or update your foster dog’s bio
Participating in meet-and-greets or informal meetings with potential adopters
Tagging @thedogrescuesociety and using #thedogrescuesociety when posting about your foster on social media
Your role as a foster is vital to each dog’s success — and we’re here to support you every step of the way!
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It varies, but most dogs are in foster care for about 2–3 months.
Here’s a general timeline of what to expect:
First 2 Weeks: Your foster dog will need time to settle in and decompress. During this period, we focus on giving them space to adjust and feel safe.
Post-Decompression: After those first couple of weeks, we’ll ask for a pup-date — including photos, notes on their personality, and any behavioural observations. We’ll also ensure that any necessary vetting is complete, which may take an extra week or so depending on your schedule and how many dogs arrived at the same time.
Adoption Interest Check-In: At this point, we’ll check if you or someone in your social circle is interested in applying to adopt the dog.
Adoption Listing: If there’s no interest from your circle, we’ll look at our waitlist to see if there's a potential match. If not, we’ll work with you to create a bio and officially list the dog for adoption.
The timeline from listing to adoption can vary widely, depending on when the right applicant comes along. Several factors can help speed up the process, including:
Sharing high-quality photos and videos
Consistent training and progress with any behaviour issues (we’ll provide resources to support you!)
Promoting your foster pup through your friends, family, and social media
Being flexible with meetups for training, photography, or potential adopter meetings
Once someone applies, the adoption process typically takes about 2 weeks, including the interview, reference checks, meet & greet, and finalizing the contract and adoption fee. After that, your foster heads off to their trial adoption home.
You know your child best. The decision to bring a foster dog into your home can depend on your child’s demeanor, energy level, as well as the child’s understanding of dogs and how to give them boundaries. Regardless, slow and calm introductions are a must.
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Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Foster Coordinator at info@thedogrescuesociety.net.
We do our best to respond within 48 hours. If you haven’t hear back, be sure to check your junk or spam folder - our emails sometimes end up there!